Fresh Gem Tomatoes with Garlic and Basil Pasta

your taste bud
Jul 22, 2017 · 3 min read

Fresh sweet, vibrant, multicoloured Gem Tomatoes transformed into a rustic pasta sauce. Truly so simple and quick you just might eschew canned pasta sauce when these fresh tomatoes are available.

Only a few ingredients are required for the sauce — gem tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil (+ fresh virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper). And it comes together very quickly.

gem tomatoes, fresh basil, minced garlic, penne

Here we use the entire tomato — flesh, skins, and seeds — just as nature intended — no waste, no fuss, no muss.

The dish is about the fresh flavours of tomato, garlic, and basil. So it’s quick and doesn’t rely on a long, slow simmer to build flavour … Dinner in 20 minutes.

The only prep required is slicing the tomatoes in half, mincing some garlic and tearing some fresh basil leaves — easy peasy. This go-to recipe serves one.

Fresh Gem Tomatoes with Garlic and Basil Pasta

ingredients

  • 1 dry pint (551ml) fresh Sweet Gem Tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp fresh minced garlic
  • ½ cup fresh basil torn
  • 1 tbsp virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt (+1 tbsp for pasta)
  • ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
  • pasta — I prefer penne or rigatoni
  • parmesan cheese if desired

Add cold water and salt to a pot for pasta and bring to a boil. Prepare pasta as directed. Reserve a ¼ cup of pasta water.

Meanwhile slice the tomatoes in half. Mince garlic. Shred basil leaves.

In small frying pan, over medium heat, add olive oil. When the oil is shimmering add minced garlic and stir for 15–30 seconds. The garlic shouldn’t brown. Add sliced tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Increase heat till mixture begins to boil then reduce and simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cook the tomatoes until they have slumped (though not so long that the skins pull away from the flesh) and the sauce has reduced.

Add fresh basil and stir until basil is wilted — remove from heat. Add the ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to the sauce if needed.

Drain pasta and combine with sauce. Top with parmesan cheese. Enjoy.

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Sharing pics, good food and drink with great friends in Vancouver and elsewhere … Am yourtastebud on twitter, pinterest & yourtastebudvancouver on instagram.